The legacy of roots visionary Yabby You will be revisited this year in the form of a box set from American independent record company Shanachie Records.

Randall Grass, head of Shanachie, says no date or title has been confirmed for the album. He indicated that the project will do justice to one of roots-reggae’s unheralded artistes.

Yabby You

Randall Grass

“We believe Yabby You is under-appreciated and should be mentioned in the same breath as Augustus Pablo, Lee Perry, Culture and Burning Spear,” said Grass.

He disclosed that the proposed album will be a diverse one. It is likely to comprise two compact discs, extensive liner notes from persons who knew and worked with the singer/producer as well as a DVD.

Yabby You (given name Vivian Jackson) died in early 2010 in Clarendon at age 63. A protégé of master engineer Osbourne ‘King Tubby’ Ruddock, he began recording in the early 1970s as founder of The Prophets, a group that included guitarist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith, Wailers bassist Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett and drummer Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace.

With Ruddock as producer, Yabby You and The Prophets cut a series of inspirational songs including “Conquering Lion”, “Love Of Jah” and “Warn The Nation”.